Grateful Dead

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lyrics by Robert Hunter Been walking all morning Went walking all night I can't see much difference Between the dark and light And I feel the wind And I taste the rain Never in my mind To cause so much pain From day to day Just letting it ride You get so far away From how it feels inside You can't let go 'Cause your afraid to fall But the day may come When you can't feel at all Comes a time when the blind man takes your hand Says "don't you see?' Gotta make it somehow On the dreams you still believe Don't give it up You got an empty cup Only love can fill Only love can fill thanks for your help, it was fun

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light, I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight. My wife was asleep, her head on my chest, My daughter beside me, angelic in rest. Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white, Transforming the yard to a winter delight. The sparkling lights in the tree I believe, Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve. My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep, Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep. In perfect contentment, or so it would seem, So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream. The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near, But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear. Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow. My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear, And I crept to the door just to see who was near. Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night, A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight. A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old, Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold. Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled, Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child. "What are you doing?" I asked without fear, "Come in this moment, it's freezing out here! Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve, You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!" For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift, Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts.. To the window that danced with a warm fire's light Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right, I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night." "It's my duty to stand at the front of the line, That separates you from the darkest of times. No one had to ask or beg or implore me, I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me. My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December," Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers." My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ', And now it is my turn and so, here I am. I've not seen my own son in more than a while, But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile. Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag, The red, white, and blue... an American flag. I can live through the cold and the being alone, Away from my family, my house and my home. I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet, I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat. I can carry the weight of killing another, Or lay down my life with my sister and brother.. Who stand at the front against any and all, To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall." " So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright, Your family is waiting and I'll be all right." "But isn't there something I can do, at the least, "Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast? It seems all too little for all that you've done, For being away from your wife and your son." Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret, "Just tell us you love us, and never forget. To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone, To stand your own watch, no matter how long. For when we come home, either standing or dead, To know you remember we fought and we bled. Is payment enough, and with that we will trust, That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

Forgive them for all they're good at doesn't make money Forgive them for they feel as someone else burden is heaviest Forgive me for acting like I'll break voicing these chain dragging complaints Forgive the squeaky complaint from the corner of the oil laden working day. Citizen forgive those unable to embrace a most precious moment in life Citizen forgive those in loss of compassion and patience waiting in line with unwarranted self importance Citizen forgive those in the turning of the way went astray Citizen forgive natural state of new money cruel as it is Forgive Saudi Bush their attempt at constitutional disregard, voter fraud, lies and war profiteering Forgive the opposition for offering only more oppression Forgive the nationalist running on a war criminals' record Forgive those who rival their belief systems construed with the image of their enemies mannerism Citizen forgive them for giving up handling snakes for lent Citizen forgive the tax stamped skull censorship in a sensory chip Citizen forgive the Olive Garden for insulting the Nights of Columbus Citizen forgive these dream filled eyes for believing too easily

this was the first song I ever wrote, about 30 years ago when I was 16. Float down the river Look up at the stars Climb the highest mountain And find out who you are Walk through the forest Sail the deep blue sea Open up you heart and let you spirit be free Time waits for no one But someone waits for time Perched on a limb They see their castles in the sky I'd like to find a way To make these dreams come true But all I know is what we are Is what we try and do, together chorus I've been around a long time now And I can see what's going down If it were up to me I'd change the world All the things I'd like to see Like love and peace and harmony And a smile For every boy and girl Out on an island Riding with the sun Into eternity The journey has begun If were to make it On this earth That we all share Protect the wilderness The oceans and the air

Blah bliggitty blahOoh ooh ahh Shish boom bah Ha ha ha

come home to Lovewhere ever you may stray when the hallways shrink and darken with shadow come home to Love if they rip your ticket and say wait over here but you see your ship is leaving come home to Love when you moved away it seemed okay you wanted to make it on your own show you could really take it and if you've found the treasure you were after then stand up tall and hold your ground for when the wind blows the fools away we'll see who is still standing talking normally come home to Love remember how the first two piggie houses blew away in the wind but that brick shithouse still stands come home to Love while you still can time's a wasting did you listen to the words of the songs that you were playing? come home to Love where it's always like you never left

when me desires turned to expectationsthey took wings like griffins and derailed my loco-motive train I wish I had a known about that before it started to rain Hey pull your head in out of the wind It's really starting to blow now Pull your blanket in tighter around you And move closer to the fire I'll tell you a story now One that will really take you higher Cause we're gonna climb that hill Sooner or later We'll scale it like fish And laugh when we get to the top And keep right on going Flying now We're never gonna stop Throw another log on the fire You're really gonna like where I'm going on this You can leave all your stuff over there You won't need it where you're going now Empty of all hopes and dreams But full of what I cannot speak There is only this now Let it flow All over you now Where the goosebumps Run like crazy fools Over your senses And you forget where you were going now What was I here to get? What was the last thing that I just thought? It's all shredding out there behind me now like tattered clothes Oh yeah, that story about the pilgrim Standing in the barn door in the rain Yeah, pull your head in out of the wind It's really starting to blow now.

it goes without sayingthe heavenly choir is assembling there's gonna be a hoe-down -if you passed the test we'll see you there on that other shore underneath the rainbows with that certain smile un- believable ever knowing down in the valley the smoke rises around the pile of ashes up on the mountain the fire's still burning bright you can see the flames through the trees at night though you don't know you're flying low head in the clouds don't stop to compare until you're ready to turn that finger around when the light shines down it doesn't matter where you are

The room is empty, identical insight appraising orthographical difficulties Inactive omens once swept across an empty windowsill Have become a manifestation of this cathartic fruition. Play’s a game of name the seraph Privilege to die without ego liberated without weight Neutrality freewill carbon and ash Expressions of blessed determination remain ever certain Abide for the occasion remnants of what will be again None of them are here, as if ghost are hidden Behind the window in a charade of shadow and shade Sudden liberation from the inner-struggle Instinctive projection intuitive action inevitable compassion Voices of belonging assonance follows Causeway spirit appear in after-space Is there anywhere hidden?Tranquil sense of ceaselessness Neutrality giving presence unto the space between Revealing everywhere the wind can hide Play a game of name the angel Grasp transfiguration of deathlessness Fold the shroud as the flowers that close at night Perseverance maintains common air, ordinary breath. Intuitive embodiment allude familiar clue rebuke the grey In the midst of mystery anomaly hints The room is empty left to only stillness

Let the sun shine down, and let the river flowHold me in your arms while the seasons come and go And when the dawn breaks, I'll be by your side Come with me, let's take a ride Let the rain fall down, and let the flowers grow Take me by the hand and never let me go And when the storm breaks, I'll be by your side Come with me, let's take a ride Let your love shine down, everywhere you go And if you'll come with me, I just want you to know Whatever roads we take, I'll be by your side So come with me girl, let's take a ride